Docking station including leveler for resealable container

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a docking station including a measuring device dock and a leveler. The docking station is suitable for use with container of multiple sizes and shapes. In certain embodiments, the docking station includes a flex prong for securing the docking station to the interior surface of a suitable container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a docking station and leveler for acontainer designed for holding a granular product or powdered material,such as infant formula. More specifically, the docking station issuitable for holding a measuring device, such as a scoop for measuringthe product. In addition, the docking station includes a flex leveler,such as a leveling bar, that may be used to level the powdered productin the scoop for more precise measuring.

BACKGROUND

There are many products in granular or powdered form that are currentlypackaged in containers. These products include, but are not limited to,infant formula, flour, coffee, sugar, and nutritional supplements, suchas protein supplements. Many of these products are removed from thecontainer via a measuring device, such as a scoop. Accordingly, manypowdered products come in a container that also includes a measuringdevice. Indeed, one of the biggest issues for consumers is having tolocate the scoop from the container upon opening without spilling orcontamination the product.

Furthermore, many powdered products require precise measuring. Indeed,often consumers may need to level the powdered product in the scoopwithout contaminating the product. Many consumers may use their hand orfingers to level the scoop, which soils the consumer's hand andpotentially contaminates the powdered product.

Accordingly, provided herein is an improved docking station and levelerthat allows the consumer to easily locate the measuring device uponopening and level the powdered product in the scoop.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved docking station fora resealable container is provided. More particularly, the dockingstation (10) may comprise a docking surface (20) having a measuringdevice dock (30) situated thereon. The docking station (10) comprises atleast one flex prong (40) that provides a friction fit against the wallof the container to hold the docking station (10) in place. In someembodiments, the docking station (10) includes a leveler (50) or aleveler bar (50).

In some embodiments, the flex prong (40) comprise a container matingsurface (42), which is designed to engage the interior surface of thecontainer and thereby hold the docking station (10) in place in theopening of the container.

The docking station of the present disclosure may be manufactured as asingle piece, e.g., by an injection molding process. Manufacture of thedevice as a single piece allows for automated insertion of the deviceinto a container while maintaining good manufacturing processes (GMP)status of the container and/or any additional packaging material. Inaddition, the device is more cost-effective than prior art containerscomprising a scoop and docking station, because it can be inserted intoa less-expensive, snap cap container with little or no modification tothe existing container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the docking station (10).

FIG. 2 shows a cut-out view of the flex prong (40) of the dockingstation (10).

FIG. 3a shows a top view of the docking station (10) having a measuringdevice (60) situated therein.

FIG. 3b shows a cut-out, side view of the docking station (10) havingthe measuring device (60) situated therein.

FIG. 4a shows a top view of the docking station (10) situated in theopening (72) of a container (70).

FIG. 4b shows a cut-out, side view of the docking station (10) positionin the opening (72) of the container (70).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, one or more examples of which are set forth hereinbelow.Each example is provided by way of explanation of the container of thepresent disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated ordescribed as part of one embodiment, can be used with another embodimentto yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers suchmodifications and variations as come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of thepresent disclosure are disclosed in or are apparent from the followingdetailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art that the present discussion is a description of exemplaryembodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects ofthe present disclosure.

For the sake of clarity, not all reference numerals are necessarilypresent in each drawing figure. In addition, positional terms such as“upper,” “lower,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,”etc. refer to the docking station and container when in the orientationshown in the drawing. The skilled artisan will recognize that dockingstation or container can assume different orientations when in use.

The docking station (10) of the present disclosure provides severaladvantages over other device holders or leveling bars. Indeed, thedocking station (10) disclosed herein is designed such that it can beremoved from and used with multiple containers. Indeed, the dockingstation (10) comprise a flex prong (40) which allows the user to removethe docking station (10) and insert it into multiple containers. This isespecially important when the product is a nutritional product that isconsumed, such as infant formula. Indeed, one the container of infantformula is consumed, the use may remove the docking station (10) andinsert it into the next container.

Furthermore, the docking station (10) is not integrally molded to thecontainer or closure, which allows for the docking station to besuitable for use in either a plastic or metal can. Furthermore,integrally molding certain features, such as a measuring device holderand leveler, that can be costly to integrally mold to existing closuresand containers due to the need to re-tool or modify manufacturingprocedures, which can be costly. Accordingly, the docking station (10)of the present disclosure can be manufactured with no major equipmentupgrade necessary at the supplier. Furthermore, the docking station (10)may be used in conjunction with easy-open lids and lids having tamperevident features, without disturbing these features. Furthermore, thedocking station (10) can be applicable to cans or containers of allshapes and sizes. Thus, there are several advantages provided by thedocking station (10) as provided herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the docking station (10)comprises a docking surface (20). The docking surface (20) may be anysuitable shape including but not limited to square, elliptical, orcylindrical. In some embodiments, the docking surface (20) is comprisedof a suitable plastic component. In other embodiments, the dockingsurface (20) may be comprised of any other suitable material for usewith powdered nutrition products such as metal, paperboard, or amultilayer cartonboard. Suitable plastics for forming the dockingstation (10) include, but are not limited to, various polymers such aspolystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene,styrene-maleic anhydride, polycarbonate, high density polyethylene,polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers,polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and the like, andblends thereof. Other suitable materials include a combination of layersof abovementioned materials and thermos-plastic elastomers.

In some embodiments, the docking station (10) comprises a measuringdevice dock (30). Indeed, the measuring device dock may be an aperturethat is complementary to the shape of the measuring device (60). Forexample, in some embodiments where the measuring device (60) is a scoop,the measuring device dock (30) is an aperture that is round and engagesthe outer walls of the scoop thereby holding the scoop in place in thedocking station (10). Indeed, the measuring device dock (30) may be anysuitable shaped aperture that is designed to be complementary to thesize and shape of the measuring device (60). Indeed, in certainembodiments the measuring device dock (30) comprises a measuring deviceengagement surface (32). As shown, the measuring device engagementsurface (32) may be the inner surface of the aperture that engages themeasuring device (60). In certain embodiments, in order to provide amore secure hold for the measuring device (60), the measuring deviceengagement surface (32) may further comprise a gasket material or othermaterial such that a better friction-fit is formed between the measuringdevice (60) and the measuring device engagement surface (32). See FIGS.3a and 3b , which show a measuring device (60) situated in the measuringdevice dock (30) of the docking surface (20) of the docking station(10).

Still referring to FIG. 1, in certain embodiments the docking surface(20) comprises a leveler (50) or level bar (50). Indeed, as shown, inone embodiment the leveler (50) is a portion of the docking surface (20)that is adjacent to the measuring device dock (30). Still in someembodiments, the leveler (50) may be a bar that extends from the dockingsurface (20) and is suitable for leveling the measuring device (60).

In some embodiments, the docking station comprises a flex prong (40)that is used to hold the docking station (10) in place in the opening ofa suitable container. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 1, in some embodimentsthe flex prong (40) is formed of a suitable flexible plastic materialsuch as various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride,polycarbonate, high density polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers,polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, polyethylene terephthalate,polyvinylcyclohexane, and the like, and blends thereof, or a combinationof layers of abovementioned materials and thermos plastic elastomers.Indeed, in certain embodiments, the docking surface (20) includingmeasuring device dock (30) and leveler (50) can be molded or attached tothe flex prong (40) by any suitable means known in the art. In someembodiments, the flex docking surface (20) is attached to the flex prong(40) via any suitable design including, pin a socket, latch design,fused, or combinations thereof. Indeed, in certain embodiments, the flexprong (40) is integrally molded with the docking surface (20) formingone continuous piece. In certain embodiments, the flex prong (40)includes at least one flex prong extension (41) that extends beyond thedocking surface (20) and is flexible such that the docking station (10)can be placed in the opening of a container. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 1,the flex prong (40) includes two flex prong extensions (41 a, 41 b) thatare able to flex toward the docking surface (20) thus allowing forinsertion of the docking station into the opening of the container. Onceinserted, the flex prong extensions (41 a, 41 b) flex toward the innerwall of the container thereby securing the docking station to the innercontainer wall. (See FIGS. 4a and 4b ).

Referring now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows a cut-away view of the flex prong(40). Indeed, in order to provide flexibility to the flex prong (40),the flex prong (40) may comprise a first bead (43) located at the top ofthe flex prong (40). In embodiments, the first bead (43) has a diameterof from about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, thefirst bead (43) is 1.0 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the flexprong (40) may also comprise a second bead (45) that is located at thebottom of the flex prong (40). Indeed, similar to the first bead (43)the second bead (45) may have a diameter of from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm. Insome embodiments, the second bead (45) has a diameter of about 1.0 mm.In certain embodiments, the flex prong (40) comprises a middle bead (44)that is generally situated in the middle of the flex prong (40). Incertain embodiments, the middle bead (44) generally has a diameter thatis larger than the first bead (43) and/or the second bead (45). Indeed,the middle bead (44) may have a diameter of from about 2.0 mm to about3.0 mm. Indeed, the flex prong (40) may be designed to have the beads,i.e. the first, middle, and/or second bead, as disclosed herein toprovide additional strength and flexibility to the flex prong (40).

Referring back to FIG. 1, the flex prong (40) may further comprise acontainer mating surface (42). As shown, the container mating surface(42) may be the outer surface of the flex prong (40) that engages theinner surface of the container. In some embodiments, the containermating surface (42) of the flex prong (40) may be modified or include anadditional material to ensure a secure fit between the docking station(10) and the container (70). In some embodiments, the container matingsurface (42) may be comprised of thermoplastic elastomers.

Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b , the docking station (10) is shown assecured in the opening of the container (70). Indeed, the flex prong(40) keeps the docking station (10) including the measuring device dock(30) and leveler (50) in place in the opening of the container (70).This allows for the consumer to conveniently locate the measuring device(60) and level the measuring device (60) with the leveler (50).

In some embodiments, the container (70) on one side opposite its bottomor base (74) and may be of any suitable shape know in the art, includingbut not limited to, cylindrical, tapering, parallelepiped shaped, andwaisted.

Without implying any restriction, the container (70) may be made as asingle thermally blow-molded plastic component. In some embodiments,however, the container (70) could comprise a material such as metal,paperboard, or a multilayer cartonboard. In some embodiments, theplastic component comprises a highly effective oxygen barrier that issuitable for use with a granulated product, such as powdered milk, orprotein or dietary supplements. In certain embodiments, the granulatedproduct is a pediatric nutritional composition. In certain embodiments,the pediatric nutritional composition is an infant formula or agrowing-up milk. In certain embodiments, the pediatric nutritionalcomposition (e.g., infant formula or growing-up milk) is liquid orpowdered.

As shown, in some embodiments the container may comprise a measuringdevice (60) that is a scoop (200). Scoop (200) may be a scoop moldedfrom a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded by anextrusion or injection process. Suitable plastics for forming themeasuring device (60) include, but are not limited to, various foodgrade polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleic anhydride,polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, andblends thereof.

In embodiments where the measuring device (60) is a scoop (200), thescoop (200) has a generally flat handle (202) attached to or integrallyformed with a scooping mechanism (204). In some embodiments, thescooping mechanism (204) is closed at one end and open at a second end,thereby forming a bowl for scooping powdered product. In someembodiments, the scooping mechanism (204) comprises a cylindrical bowl.The bowl of the scooping mechanism (204) may be formed in many othershapes including, but not limited to square, rectangular, oval,flat-bottomed etc. In some embodiments, the scooping mechanism (204) maybe a fixed or variable volume device.

Consequently, due to the measuring device dock (30), the measuringdevice (60) or scoop (200) does not become buried in the granulatedmaterial located in the container (70) and thereby eliminates the needfor the user to dig through the contents in search of the scoop (200).This is especially important when the container's contents are for humanconsumption and contact with the hands is undesirable.

All references cited in this specification, including withoutlimitation, all papers, publications, patents, patent applications,presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, internetpostings, journal articles, periodicals, and the like, are herebyincorporated by reference into this specification in their entireties.The discussion of the references herein is intended merely to summarizethe assertions made by their authors and no admission is made that anyreference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right tochallenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

Although embodiments of the disclosure have been described usingspecific terms, devices, and methods, such description is forillustrative purposes only. The words used are words of descriptionrather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure, whichis set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should beunderstood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchangedin whole or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims should not be limited to the description of the versionscontained therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A docking station comprising: a docking surface;and a flex prong attached to the docking surface, such that the flexprong is capable of engaging the inner surface of a container forsecuring the docking station to the container.
 2. The docking station ofclaim 1, wherein the docking surface further comprises a measuringdevice dock.
 3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein the measuringdevice dock further comprises a measuring device engagement surface forengaging a measuring device.
 3. The docking station of claim 1, whereinthe docking surface further comprises a leveler.
 4. The docking stationof claim 1, wherein the flex prong further comprises a container matingsurface.
 5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the flex prongfurther comprises at least one flex prong extension.
 6. The dockingstation of claim 1, wherein the flex prong further comprises a firstbead, a middle bead, and a second bead.
 7. The docking station of claim6, wherein the first bead has a diameter of from about 1.0 mm to about 2mm, the middle bead has a diameter of about 2 mm to about 3.0 mm, andthe third bead has a diameter of about 1.0 mm to about 2 mm.
 8. Thedocking station of claim 2, further comprising a measuring device,wherein the measuring device can be secured by the measuring devicedock.
 9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the measuring devicecomprise a scoop.
 10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the scoopfurther comprises a handle and a bowl.
 11. The docking station of claim1, wherein the docking station is comprised of a plastic resin.